Pro-Palestinian demonstrations - Interior Minister: Abuse of demonstrations intolerable
In view of the war in the Middle East, the German interior ministers still do not want to accept pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel without restrictions.
"The abuse of freedom of opinion and freedom of assembly to spread hatred and agitation against Israel and Jews is not only intolerable, but we will oppose it with all available constitutional means," emphasized the Chairwoman of the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK), Berlin's Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD), at the opening. The visit of Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, to the conference was therefore an important signal.
Threat situation due to Islamist terrorism
The global security situation has recently deteriorated "dramatically", which has a direct impact on Germany, Spranger continued. The threat of terrorism is the second focus of the three-day conference in Berlin. In view of the current conflicts, the protection of citizens in Germany is particularly important.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser(SPD) had already emphasized in the news portal "t-online" that there was an increased threat situation, particularly from Islamist terrorism. "Right now, we need to keep a close eye on Islamist threats and stop further radicalization processes." Currently, the Christmas markets and next year's European Football Championship 2024 are the main focus of the police.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) will also be a guest of the interior ministers. Spranger said that Germany's internal and external security are "no longer clearly separable".
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) demanded on the sidelines of the conference that the border controls introduced by Faeser in mid-October, especially those with Poland and the Czech Republic, must be continued. "The controls are extremely successful. Since they have been in place, we have been able to arrest hundreds of criminal smugglers," said Herrmann. The controls have a clear deterrent effect. It would be "completely the wrong signal" to end them again. Similar assessments were heard from other interior ministers.
Another important topic at the IMK will be how to deal with violent soccer fans. Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Hesse in particular urged discussions on the subject, while several federal states also see the DFB as having a duty to contribute to the costs of police operations. Following a number of incidents at German airports, more security at such locations is also to be discussed. Other topics include the fight against increasing violent crime, sexualized depictions of violence against children through artificial intelligence and the reversal of the burden of proof in the confiscation of criminals' assets.
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- The pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin against Israel have been a source of concern due to alleged abuse of demonstrations, according to Berlin's Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger from the SPD.
- The Chairwoman of the Conference of Interior Ministers, Iris Spranger, strongly condemned the use of pro-Palestinian demonstrations to spread hatred and agitation against Israel and Jews.
- The Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, attended the conference to underscore their opposition to the abuse of demonstrations.
- The protection of citizens in Germany is of paramount importance in view of the current conflicts and Islamist terror threats, according to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
- The threat of terrorism is the second focus of the three-day conference in Berlin, with a particular focus on the protection of citizens during major events like Christmas markets and the European Football Championship 2024.
- Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann called for the continuation of border controls introduced by Faeser in mid-October, particularly with Poland and the Czech Republic, citing their success in arresting hundreds of criminal smugglers.
- Several federal states also urged discussions on dealing with violent soccer fans, while Lower Saxony, Hamburg, and Hesse specifically emphasized the duty of the German Football Association (DFB) to contribute to police operation costs.
- The Central Council of Jews in Germany, led by President Josef Schuster, has been actively engaged in addressing domestic policy issues and advocating for the rights of Jews in Germany and beyond.
- The terrorist group Harakat el-Mukawame el-Islamije, active in Israel and Palestine, has been labeled as a significant threat due to its commitment to violence and extremist ideologies.
- In the context of the current migration crisis, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, an SPD member, has emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of Islamist radicalization and preventing further radicalization processes in Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
